Desk Report:
The slightest chance of winning the T20 series against Australia has already ended. The second T20 of the series at Mount Maunganui was abandoned due to rain yesterday. The third T20 held at the same ground today was a series-saving battle for New Zealand. However, the Kiwis could not save the series.
Mitchell Marsh could not do it even though he had the chance to score a century in the first T20 of the series at Mount Maunganui on October 1. He was unbeaten on 85 runs off 43 balls. Australia won that match by 6 wickets in his impeccable innings. Two days later, Marsh reached his century today. His century helped Australia win the third T20 by 3 wickets. The Aussies won the three-match T20 series 2-0.
Chasing a target of 157 runs, Australia’s opening pair fell for 28 runs. Kiwi pacer Jacob Duffy bowled Travis Head (8) on the second ball of the fourth over. After breaking the opening partnership, Matthew Short came out to bat. Short and Mitchell Marsh put on a 34-run partnership in 18 balls for the second wicket. Jimmy Neesham broke the partnership by removing Short (7) in the second ball of the seventh over.
After being shorted out, Australia‘s innings suffered a minor collapse in batting. Australia were 134 for 7 in 15.4 overs. Mitchell Marsh continued to play at one end as his teammates came and went. He scored the first century of his international T20 career. Marsh reached three figures with two runs off the first ball of the 18th over from Duffy. Marsh put on an unbreakable 26-run partnership in 14 balls with Shaun Abbott for the eighth wicket. Shaun Abbott took Duffy for 4 off the last ball of the 18th over to give Australia a 3-wicket victory.
Mitchell Marsh was named man of the match for Australia’s 3-wicket victory with 2 overs to spare. He remained unbeaten on 103 runs off 52 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes. The Australian captain also received the Man of the Series award. He scored 197 runs at a strike rate of 191.26. The highest run of the series also came from his bat.
Earlier, the start of the game was delayed by 15 minutes due to the wet outfield due to rain. Australian captain Marsh won the toss and decided to field. However, after New Zealand scored 11 runs for 1 wicket in 2 overs, rain intervened. Play resumed after a 20-minute break. The Kiwis batted for the entire 20 overs. New Zealand’s innings ended at 156 runs for 9 wickets. Tim Seifert scored the highest 48 runs. He hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in his 35-ball innings. Australia’s Shaun Abbott took 3 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs. Josh Hazlewood and Javier Bartlett took two wickets each.
